JOHN A. DICKIE, a prosperous and well-known farmer of Donegal township, is of Scotch descent. His grandfather, Alexander Dickie, was born in the west of Scotland, and followed a farmer’s life. He was there married to a countrywoman, and their children were: Alexander, Robert, John, James (deceased in Scotland), Nancy, and one whose name is unknown. These children were all born in Scotland, and all save James accompanied their parents to the United States, in about the year 1832. They landed at New York, and moving westward, located in the northern part of Donegal township, Washington Co., Penn. Here Mr. Alexander continued to follow farming until his wife died, when he soon afterward went to live with his daughter-in-law,and at her home passed away. John Dickie, son of Alexander Dickie, was born in Scotland, and passed his early years on his father’s farm in Pennsylvania. He was married to Margaret Wilson, a native of Fayette county, Penn., and they had five children, namely: Elizabeth (living in Claysville, this county, the widow of John Mills), John A. (our subject), Ann (Mrs. Nelson McNeal, of Donegal township), Robert (a farmer of Donegal township), and William (deceased in infancy). For a number of years after his marriage Mr. Dickie followed farming in the northern part of Donegal township, and then moved to West Virginia, where he died in 1854. He was a Democrat in political opinions. His widow is now living in Claysville. John A. Dickie, the eldest on of John and Margaret (Wilson) Dickie, was born December 7, 1844, in Donegal township, and received his education at the country schools. At the age of ten years, his father having died, he went to live with Guyan Moore, of Donegal township, where he made his home and assisted in the farm work, until the spring of 1862, when he remained a short time with William Lytle. On August 16, 1862 he enlisted in Company C, One Hundred and Fortieth P. V. I.; he took part in the battle of Gettysburg, and being severely wounded on the second day of that fight, was obliged to remain in the hospital nine months. On recovering, he joined his regiment at Deep Bottom, Va., and the next day was again wounded. Mr. Dickie was unfit for service during the remainder of the war, and when the struggle was ended, he returned to Washington county, Penn., and engaged in farm work. On January 27, 1869, he was united in marriage with Mrs. Sarah Jane (Hicks) Miller; widow of William Miller, and a native of Marshall county, W. Va. To their union have been born three daughters: Margaret Elizabeth, Anna Mary and Fannie Esther, all of whom are living at home. After his marriage Mr. Dickie farmed in Donegal township, and in 1879 purchased his present well improved piece of farm land, located about two miles west of Claysville, along the National pike, formerly called the ‘Ned McLaughlin farm’. He has erected a new residence, also a good barn, and these improvements have greatly enhanced the value and appearance of the place. Both he and his wife are members of the Presbyterian Church at Claysville, in which Mr. Dickie is a ruling elder. Politically he is a lifelong Republican.

Text taken from page 543 of: Beers, J. H. and Co., Commemorative Biographical Record of Washington County, Pennsylvania (Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1893). Transcribed May 1997 by LuShelle Fletcher of Grand Island, NE as part of the Beers Project. Published May 1997 on the Washington County, PA USGenWeb pages at http://www.chartiers.com/.

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